Heels In The Courtroom

Liz and Elizabeth share some advice on succeeding as a first generation lawyer. Top tip: nurture your network.  Here's how.

Plaintiff attorney and mediator Jill Bollwerk offers practical tips and insights that can help you be more successful in your next mediation.

Today we're talking about the difference between a simple question that elicits a powerful answer and the kind of questions that show you haven't done your homework.

St. Louis University School of Law Dean Twinette Johnson's wide-ranging career is based on her simple truth: know yourself. Her vision to support the next generation of justice-minded advocates may help you find your own balance.

There's a new pair of Heels in the Courtroom. Get to know Katie St. John and hear about her path to plaintiff's law and recent trial success stories.

Our goal is to lift you up with every episode, and today we are sharing our mentor's most valuable life lessons. We hope these ideas help you get through the day with a little more grace, a little less angst and a lot more confidence.

Mentors help you build skills, gain confidence and are there for you when you need trusted advice on practically anything.  Mary brings her mentor (and Dad) Attorney John Simon into the discussion on the power of positive mentorship.

ENCORE - You, your firm and the legal profession will benefit when you make mentorship a meaningful experience in your firm. We offer tips on how you can enhance the mentee's learning experience, help them provide better work product for you and recharge your enthusiasm in the process.

Let's not sugar coat it. To be a successful trial attorney you need to work long hours in a changing legislative landscape, deflect the inevitable gender bias women face and have serious support at home. Are you in?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is an essential part of the legal profession. Attorneys who recognize, anticipate, and navigate cultural bias can foster deeper connections and achieve better outcomes in their practice.

Panicking about a bad fact in your case? When you can find the truth behind it, put it in context for your client and be prepared to own it, you can often disarm the potential damage.

Hoping to make some positive changes in 2025? We'll take you down our personal rabbit holes of bad habits and share 5 concrete strategies we can all use to detoxify our lives.

When, why and how should you make a pre-suit demand? Tune in for a realistic discussion on when they work, why sometimes they don't, and tips on how to improve your chances of a positive outcome.

For our first episode of 2025, we chose to dig deeper than resolutions and explore what lights us up and brings out our best. Build on that for the new year and you've got a resolution you'll actually keep.

Feeling anxious? Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a thing and most of us have probably experienced it. Tune in for our coping techniques before holiday anxiety kicks in!

From making fond memories to facing heartbreaking hurdles, we share what we are grateful for in 2024. And after you grab a tissue, take a moment of reflection for your own 2024 journey.

Congratulations, you passed the bar! Now what? We'll share some lessons and disasters from our first years of practice that might help you start your career with a little more confidence.

Criticism is meant to be helpful, but often, it just hurts. How can we better absorb the punches and keep a positive attitude?

Disbursing settlements can be challenging. Today's discussion covers claims on the settlement, special needs trusts and structured settlement annuities.

It may feel awkward or uncomfortable to ask for help. But if you try our tips, you may be surprised by how pleased people are to be asked to help you.

This episode is dedicated to Amy Gunn's beloved Sun Bun Gunn, who recently crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We'll talk about the special place pets hold in our lives and why we think every dedicated trial attorney should consider a pet.

Opposing counsel is telling you all the problems with your case for the 800th time. When he starts up again (yes, we think it's a guy thing) should you shut it down or lean in?

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary R. Russell offers her thoughts on how to conduct yourself in court and why we must retain confidence in the judicial system.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary R. Russell shares her inspiring path from growing up on a Missouri farm to leading the highest court in the state.

Streamline, clarify and de-clutter your exhibit list by incorporating our top tips for preparing and presenting exhibits for depo and trial. We'll discuss proper procedure on how to mark, submit and enter exhibits correctly and share an easy acronym to help you remember the important steps.

Summer is conference season, and whether you love them or dread them, it's wise to prepare a positive mindset before you go. Learn how to enjoy and benefit from the “forced fun” of these events while protecting yourself and your reputation.

Listen up, clerks! Today we're talking about what makes a clerk (or any mentee) stand out in the crowd. We'll wrap up our discussion with top tips for making mentorship in your firm a positive opportunity for everyone.

You, your firm and the legal profession will benefit when you make mentorship a meaningful experience in your firm. We offer tips on how you can enhance the mentee's learning experience, help them provide better work product for you and recharge your enthusiasm in the process.

Are you dealing with a client who is needy, mean, lies to you or is just plain unrealistic? Boy, we have too. Today we're talking about how to serve difficult clients while protecting our personal and professional boundaries.

You want to help that friend of a friend with their minor auto accident settlement, but taking the case is not a good business decision. However, there are things you can do to extend goodwill and validate the referral…tune in for our tips.

What does success mean to you? Is it a monetary goal? A safe and comfortable home? Or simply the ability to shop at the “fancy” grocery store? Take a moment to re-evaluate your idea of personal success and give yourself some credit for your little successes.

Checklists help us avoid mistakes and allow our brains to focus on higher thinking. Follow along as we use pro tips from a checklist expert to create a fail-safe prep list for mediations.

Our goal is to lift you up with every episode, and today we are sharing our mentor's most valuable life lessons. We hope these ideas help you get through the day with a little more grace, a little less angst and a lot more confidence.

Mentors help you build skills, gain confidence and are there for you when you need trusted advice on practically anything. Mary brings her mentor (and Dad) Attorney John Simon into the discussion on the power of positive mentorship.

Frustration. Guilt. Anger. Loss. It's hard to stay focused when so many powerful emotions come at you in a single day. Listen in as we discuss our recent rides on the emotional roller coaster and learn about the tools we use to keep our sanity and come back for more.

Many female attorneys agonize over courtroom attire….but does it really matter? Intentional dressing really does communicate an attitude to the jury and imparts a first impression that can impact you and your client. Tune in for a slightly different take on the courtroom clothing conversation.

The one fact that will convince the jury your client is telling the truth is right there in the records….you just have to find it and present it in the most impactful way possible. Tune in to hear how our courtroom strategy helped the jury get justice for a brave woman who was determined to fight for what is right.

Our latest trial win involved a sexual assault case between a woman, her supervisor, and what really happened after he knocked on her hotel room door. We'll share the facts of the case in part one and take you to trial in part two.

In the heat of trial, your mind is on the moment, not always on the potential for appeal. Failing to preserve the record can be a costly mistake. Get in the weeds with us as we discuss what you need to preserve, how to do it efficiently and why you may want to ask for help on this front in major litigation.

Jurors need legal guidance when deliberating a case because, duh, they aren't lawyers. Jury instructions are their roadmap, and it's definitely in your client's best interest to be sure those instructions are as clear and concise as possible. In this episode, we discuss verdict directors, clean and dirty instructions, roving commissions, potential pitfalls and resources to create instructions that help the jury align their decision within the proper legal parameters.

The New Year is a good time for reflection even if you don't do resolutions. To kick off 2024, we checked in on last year's silly and serious resolutions and made some new goals to guide us in the coming year. Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and resolve to “do you” even better this year.

The holidays can be stressful but sharing the joy of traditions like making memory books, traveling home and tying the hugest tree you can find on the mini-Cooper make it all worthwhile. Join our holiday party as we share our family traditions and plans to make this holiday season our best yet. Wishing you the happiest of holidays from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom.

Seriously, opposing counsel is making faces during a tragic trucking case that involves the death of a child?! Erica Slater managed to overcome eye rolls, shoulder shrugs, claims of phantom vehicles and last-minute discovery issues to win a significant verdict for her client. Hear the whole story, and some interesting legal insights on suing family members, in this encore episode of Heels in the Courtroom.

Not every cross examination has to be adversarial. If you come on too strong with a witness who is trying hard to be helpful, you may prove your point but lose your case. We'll talk about how to pivot your attitude and watch your nonverbals when cross examining a nice person so you win the facts without losing the jury.

Bing. Another email. Bing. Update on disturbing international unrest. Your heart hurts but…. Bing. Your exercise app interrupts with a workout nudge. Bing. Meeting reminder, and you realize you forgot to send that text. Bing. Another email. Bing. It's just…too…much. We're suffering from information overload. If you are too, join us as we talk through the stress and try to re-center in a healthier place.

Most of us get so caught up in our hectic day-to-day world that we forget to appreciate our achievements and the people who bring us joy. So slow down and share a moment with us as we reflect on our greatest gifts and let gratitude be your attitude this week. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Heels in the Courtroom.

In Part Two of our winning case analysis, Amy Gunn and Liz Lenivy discuss witness prep, damages and dubious defense tactics. Win or lose, big cases can take a toll on attorneys, and Amy candidly shares how she will recharge her resolve and routine after celebrating one of the biggest verdicts in her career.

An inspired approach and darn good discovery skills led to a big med mal win for our client. In this encore episode, Amy Gunn and Liz Lenivy discuss their pre-trial and courtroom strategies and share some good-to-know facts about medical records in this real-life legal drama episode.

Is your client considering taking out a lawsuit loan to pay medical bills or other expenses? How can these loans impact the case, the settlement or even you as the attorney? We'll discuss a new Missouri law that offers guidance on the issue and re-learn the proper use of the word “champerty.”

Got room in your hectic schedule for another “obligation”? Think “opportunity” instead. Taking on a leadership role in a professional or community organization offers connections and insights you won't find anyplace else. Learn more about how we serve and why you should too.

Being polite when opposing counsel goes low doesn't mean you're a pushover. It's a savvy strategy both professionally and personally. You know somebody's gonna get snarky sometime soon, so tune in for this reminder on why it's always smart to mind your manners when you stand your ground.